Former Minutemen hoops stars Rashaun Freeman and Sean Carter have signed with a pair of professional teams in Europe.
Freeman will return to France and play for JSF Nanterre after spending the last two seasons in Belgium, Puerto Rico and Israel. Read about his signing at Euro Basket
After much anticipation, game day is finally here as UMass and Stanford will meet tonight at 7 PM in the NIT Semifinals in Madison Square Garden. Lots of great previews and features on the Minutemen who have been in the media spotlight due to the program's history with Madison Square Garden and a certain point guard who hails from Brooklyn.
Here are a few recaps from Massachusetts and Mississippi newspapers on Tuesday's big road win over Mississippi State in the NIT First Round. The UMass-Seton Hall second round game will be played at Walsh Gymnasium on the SHU campus but we are waiting on the NIT to assign a date and time. So while we wait, take a look at some of these stories and keep on cheering on the Minutemen.
Jesse Morgan and Sean Carter blistered the nets on Saturday to help lead UMass past Rhode island 89-83 on Senior Day at the Mullins Center. The Minutemen collected their 20th win of the season and finished the Atlantic 10 regular-season tied for fifth at 9-7. UMass will be the No. 8 seed in this week's A-10 Tournament and will host No. 9 seed Duquesne Tuesday at 7 p.m. But in the meantime, here are a few article recapping the triumph over the Rams.
Matt Vautour has a look at the season Sean Carter has put together finding success not only on the hardwood, but also in the classroom where he posted a 4.0 GPA last semester.
Matt Vautour of the Daily Hampshire Gazette has a preview this morning of tonight's men's basketball game at Rhode Island with both teams coming off big wins. UMass beat Saint Louis last Saturday at the Mullins Center, while the Rams took down Dayton on the road.
Thanks to clutch free throws down the stretch, the UMass men's basketball team was able to hold off Charlotte on Wednesday night to remain a perfect 9-0 this season in home games with an 85-75 win over the 49ers. The Minutemen return to action on Saturday (4 PM) against Saint Joseph's.
Matt Vautour has a look at tonight's men's basketball match-up between UMass and Central Connecticut State as the Blue Devils visit the Mullins Center for a 7 PM tip-off.
Matt Vautour of the Daily Hampshire Gazette has a story on Derek Kellogg indicating at UMass media day on Friday that the starting five for the Minutemen's season opener this Friday against Elon at the Curry Hicks Cage could be Chaz Williams, Freddie Riley, Javorn Farrell, Raphiael Putney, and Sean Carter. The Minutemen played their second and final closed scrimmage of the season on Saturday at Seton Hall.
Vautour also points out some jersey number changes for the Minutemen this season. Check out the online roster.
The first State of Massachusetts Basketball Media Day was held at Boston University's Case Gym on Tuesday. UMass head coach Derek Kellogg and senior bigman Sean Carter were there representing the Minutemen as head coaches and select players from all six Division I men's basketball teams in the Commonwealth were there. Dozens of local regional, and national media members came out to cover the event with the start of official practices coming on Friday. Check out some of the coverage below.
The UMass men's basketball team and coaching staff were out in the community on Tuesday night when they attended the renovated basketball court dedication and barbecue at St. Brigid's Church in Amherst. The event, which was open to the public, was hosted by Fr. John Smegal and gave the local kids a chance to meet the 2011-12 Minutemen. Check out the video below.
Five Minutemen celebrate birthdays today: Rob Blanchflower from football, Kyle Jennings from swimming, Conor Sheary and Joel Hanley from hockey, and Sean Carter from men's basketball. Happy birthday guys - hope you have a great day!
Today's UMass Basketball Show Guests will be junior center Sean Carter and freshman guard Jesse Morgan. Join us at the Hangar Pub & Grille, at 7 p.m., or listen on 100.9 FM WRNX.
Lots of stories on the basketball front on Tuesday including injury updates on both Sean Carter (elbow) and Freddie Riley (foot/ankle) read about in these stories.
On the UMass Basketball Radio Show, head coach Derek Kellogg gave an update on the injury statuses of Sean Carter and Freddie Riley. Carter is nursing a hyper-extended elbow and Riley is hurting with a right foot/ankle swelling.
Both players are "questionable to out" according to coach.
Check out the Daily Hampshire Gazette's sidebar after the La Salle win on junior center Sean Carter.
"We got a great performance tonight from Sean Carter," UMass coach Derek Kellogg said. "He looked like a man in the paint finishing balls around the rim... I've been waiting for Sean to break out because he's practiced very hard as of late. "
Carter had a season-high 15 points to go with nine rebounds and two blocked shots while limiting Murray to 12 points and eight rebounds, both below his averages.
Neither of those seemed like a definite for anyone who saw the University of Massachusetts junior center writhing in pain on the floor late in the second half of Sunday's 55-50 win over Dayton.
Carter, who was poked in the eye during a scrum for a loose ball, immediately brought both hands to his injured eye and spent several moments squirming in pain. But he was back at practice Monday and other than a couple of stitches around the eye and a blood spot on the white of it, he proclaimed himself no worse for wear and ready to play at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Xavier.
Fresh from a victory over Dayton Sunday, the University of Massachusetts men's basketball team received more good news when Sean Carter appeared to sustain no lingering effects from an eye injury.
The 6-foot-9 center left the game with 1:41 to play, Poked in the right eye during a loose-ball scramble, Carter was in severe pain, twisting and writhing on the Mullins Center floor as trainers attended to him.
He left with an ice pack on his eye, which was swollen after the game. A team spokesman said Monday that Carter had recovered well, however, and was expected to play Wednesday night at Xavier.
Tonight's UMass Basketball Radio Show guest is junior bigman Sean Carter. Join us as the Hangar Pub & Grill at 7 p.m., for the show or listen on 100.9 FM WRNX in Western Mass or 1510 AM The Zone in Eastern Mass or online: Listen.
Check out CBS 3 Springfield's feature on the UMass Athletic Department spreading cheer at the local Shriners Hospital.
Children spending the holiday in the hospital got a fun surprise today. UMass athletes made their annual trip to Shriners Hospital for Children , passing out toys to the kids. The trolleys they pulled looked a little like Santa's sleigh.
Athletes from several different UMass teams helped give hundreds of toys away. Basketball player, Sean Carter, says it's important to brighten the kids' day.
"These kids enjoy it. There's some things in life they really don't get a chance to do so it helps them know that people care about them," he says.
UMass collected the toys at Minutemen basketball and hockey games. Doctors and trainers from UMass' athletic department donated money to give Shriners Hospital for Children a red Wiii this year.
The Daily Hampshire Gazette has a basketball notebook updating several topics including Hashim Bailey's suspension. Also, Sean Carter will be among a sizable contingent of UMass student athletes that will deliver presents to kids at the Shriners Hospital in Springfield this afternoon.
The Daily Hampshire Gazette has a basketball notebook leading off with Sean Carter's important and increased play off the bench for the last four games.
Since then Carter has thrived. He's averaging 6.25 points and 5.0 rebounds per game in four games as a reserve, culminating in Saturday's effort.
The Daily Collegian also has a story on Carter and his contributions to the UMass win.
"That may have been the best game he's played since he's been here," UMass coach Derek Kellogg said after the win. "I thought Sean was great. Since he's gone to the bench, it's ironic that he's played such good basketball."
Here are stories on the UMass basketball team as the Minutemen prepare to face Sacred Heart tonight at the Mullins Center. The Daily Collegian ran its 2010-11 season preview with tons of coverage on the Maroon & White.
UMass junior bigman Sean Carter give his take on the start of UMass basketball practice with a little insight on the UMass freshman and sophomore classes. Check out the video.
Matt Vautour of the Daily Hampshire Gazette was at the first practice of the season last night at the Rec Center and filed a story.
Whether it is better than it was a year ago still has yet to be determined, but the University of Massachusetts appears to be starting the 2010-11 season as a much fitter basketball team.
For the second straight season, UMass eschewed the bells and whistles of Midnight Madness for a more traditional first practice. It was held at the campus' new recreation center so students could watch if they wanted to.
"We're looking better. Stronger. We're in way better shape than we were last season," junior big man Sean Carter said. "It's going to pay off in the long run for us."
